A Change of Guard

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Monday 20 September 2010

Hun Sen preparing a political dynasty?

Below: Hun Manet talks to children and (left seated) Dy Vichea, Hun Manet and Hun Sen Many during the distribution of gifts at the orphanage.

By Khmerization
Source: Kampuchea Thmey

Prime Minister Hun Sen seems to be positioning for a political succession in recent years when his children, especially his oldest son Hun Manet, were seen coming out in drove to carry out humanitarian works in less fortunate areas, particularly in rural Cambodia.

The latest publicity stunt happened on Saturday 18th September in Phnom Penh's Russey Keo district when Hun Manet, Hun Many and his wife, Dy Vichea, Hun Sen's son-in-law and son of the late Police Commissioner Hok Lundy, brought abundance of gifts to the 133 orphaned children living in an orphanage in the area.

They donated 5o bikes, 2 tons of rice, 50 kilograms of smoked fish, 100 kilograms of dried and pickled white carrot, 10 boxes of canned fish, 50 boxes of instant noodle, 100 kilograms of salt, 80 kilograms of MSG powder, 200 kilograms of white sugar, 20 containers of fish sauce and 20 containers of liquid bean seasoning sauce.

On top of this, they donated 10 foot balls, 10 volley balls, 10 shuttle cocks etc. They also donated 660 notebooks, 160 T-shirts, pens, pencils, clothes and other things to the 133 children of the orphanage. They donated 6 pairs of clothes, 6 kramas (thin towel), 6 sarongs and 6 pairs of thongs to older disabled people in the area.

On top of this, each of 11 staff of the orphanage gets 200,000 riels ($50) each, each of the 133 orphan gets 20,000 riels ($5), each of the 6 disabled people gets $100,000 ($25) and the orphanage gets an 8 ($2,000) million riels donation from the Hun Sen family. On top of this, the orphanage gets 3 computers, one photocopier and one printer.

Prime Minister Hun Sen has been seen trying to groom his oldest son, Hun Manet who graduated from the prestigious West Point Military Academy in the U.S, holds a Masters Degree from Georgetown University in the U.S and holds a Ph.D from Britain's Bristol University, for the last 3 years or so by attempting to find him a parliamentary seat within the ruling Cambodian People's Party, but was opposed by the party's old guards. He later was appointed a brigadier general in the Cambodian Military.

This latest publicity show is another example of the Hun Clan trying to polish its public image due to Prime Minister's iron fist rule, but importantly due to the misdeeds of his many relatives in the past that have drawn Mr. Hun Sen to warn of a revenge attack when he is no longer in power.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hun Sen is hell-bent to turn his eldest son to be a politician and ultimately to become the next Cambodia's prime minister. We can bet that Hun Sen will make sure this is going to happen. Whether Hun Manet becomes the next prime minister or not, what's important is the qualification. Cambodia need a leader who know how to lead, not someone who lead with an iron fist. Aside from the opposition party, I can't see anyone more qualify than Hun Manet, assuming he will be in CCP party. Hun Manet has good education backgrounds and with his calm and cool collective personality, he's slowly winning the heart and mind of the Cambodian people. At this time, he's politically inexperience, by involving himself in public relation like this one, he's building himself a good resume'. If and when Hun Manet become prime minister, Cambodia might see a little glimse of democracy.

Anonymous said...

It is true that Hun Manet, unlike his father, has a collected and calm mind. I read his interview in the Phnom Penh Post in 1996, when he was 18 years old, he spoke very philosophical about society, education and politics. He is well educated and graduated from Western universities. However, I am against a political succession of any sort. Hun Manet must prove his own ability and not depend on his father's power to prop him up. He must start his career as a junior official somewhere first, maybe in the Defence Ministry or work as apprentice at some international organizations like the World Bank or the UN to gain experience or international exposures. Now, look like he is jumping the queue to get the top job by just distributing gifts from corrupt money. This is not the right way to the top job.

Anonymous said...

if tht is so i may head back home